Abuja, Nigeria – Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State don come out gree say, claims wey dey go around about religious genocide for him state no be true. He dey stress say even though dem get serious security wahalas, wetin dey happen no fit enter that genocide category.
Alia yarn this one during consultative forum wey National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) organize to protect Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs). E clear am say, “For Benue, we no get religious, ethnic, or any kin genocide. We just dey face some level of insecurity.” (Wetin dem go call am if no be serious matter?)
Alia, wey be Catholic priest before e turn politician, don also deny any claim say jihad dey happen for Benue or anywhere for Nigeria. “We no get any jihad for Nigeria! If anything like that dey happen, I go be the first person to raise my hand and shout,” he insist. (This na serious talk from a Reverend Father wey go still return to church.)
His talks dey come as international spotlight don shine for Nigeria concerning religious freedom, especially with American officials dey look Nigeria as Country of Particular Concern (CPC) because of wetin dem dey call persecution of Christians. During Trump administration, the label don dey active, but Joe Biden later remove am. E be like say this matter no fit allow rest anytime soon.
The governor also don meet with U.S. embassy diplomats to explain how things dey for Benue, sharp guy abeg. “I don tell dem say the situation no fit meet the UN definition of genocide,” he talk. In reality, since 2009, Benue no dey find peace as violence don dey break communities since that time.
Na wetin dis man dey talk dey cause serious mixed reactions! Some people dey hail am, while others, like Human Rights Advocate Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo, dey vex reach sky! E call Alia statement shocking and irresponsible, say na insult to people wey don dey suffer since. “To deny say people dey die na wahala wey no supposed happen,” Omirhobo add.
Social media no dey left behind for this gist, as many users don dey challenge the governor, especially on say e no dey give proper numbers or data wey go fit back im claims. For all the matter wey don dey unfold since Alia talk, di wahala wey concern Christians and the whole society for Nigeria still dey hot.
As dem dey plan hearing for U.S. Congress to discuss dis designation wahala, e be like sey na so di matter go continue to dey brew. The debate go involve top officials from U.S. State Department and religious leaders from Nigeria. Na so the matter dey be, as everybody dey try to find out the truth and how to solve the wahala wey dey plague the land.
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